12 Children’s Books That Will Make An Adult Cry

December 1, 2017

3 Min Read

Children’s books aren’t just for little kids. There are themes in children’s novels that any adult can relate to. But sometimes they can hit a little too close to home. Beyond occasionally being incredibly poignant, they can make even the most indifferent adults weep like a baby. Here are a few children’s novels that will have you grabbing for a tissue.

1. Antoine de Saint-Exupery – The Little Prince

A little prince exploring various planets in order to cure his own loneliness? Yes, the story gets very sad. However, this story also shows the beauty of the world, and how you can find friendship in the most unlikely of people. It’s a total tear-jerker.

2. Shel Silverstein – The Giving Tree

3. J. M. Barrie – Peter Pan

Adults, like children, don’t want to grow. Imagine escaping to a far-away island where all you had to worry about were pirates and devious mermaids. While this may sound like a fun story, it definitely has it’s dark side. Peter Pan loves an unattainable girl, the lost boys have to grow up, and no one can stay a kid forever. It’s a heartbreaking read.

4. Frances Hodgson Burnett – The Secret Garden

From unloving parents to isolation and loneliness, this book covers it all. Based on a stubborn girl who learns about love and friendship, The Secret Garden is a novel that will have you wondering how it was ever deemed as “children’s literature.”

5. Katherine Paterson – The Bridge To Terebithia

This beautifully written book will take you back to a time of childhood friendship, and days spent outdoors. This story focuses on two unlikely friends that help each other overcome daily obstacles, and tremendous tragedies. Keep a box of tissues nearby for this book.